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- | ====== gāokǎo: 高考 - National College Entrance Examination (Gaokao) ====== | + | |
- | ===== Quick Summary ===== | + | |
- | * **Keywords: | + | |
- | * **Summary: | + | |
- | ===== Core Meaning ===== | + | |
- | * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** gāokǎo | + | |
- | * **Part of Speech:** Noun | + | |
- | * **HSK Level:** HSK 5 | + | |
- | * **Concise Definition: | + | |
- | * **In a Nutshell:** Imagine if your entire academic future—which university you could attend and what you could study—was determined by your performance on a single, two-to-three-day exam. That's the **高考 (gāokǎo)**. It's the culmination of twelve years of schooling, distilled into one moment of intense pressure. For students and their families, it is the single most important event of their young lives, a "make or break" moment that shapes their destiny. | + | |
- | ===== Character Breakdown ===== | + | |
- | * **高 (gāo):** This character means " | + | |
- | * **考 (kǎo):** This character means "to test" or "to examine," | + | |
- | * **Combined Meaning:** Together, **高考 (gāokǎo)** literally translates to " | + | |
- | ===== Cultural Context and Significance ===== | + | |
- | The **高考 (gāokǎo)** is more than an exam; it's a societal phenomenon. It is often described by the idiom **千军万马过独木桥 (qiān jūn wàn mǎ guò dú mù qiáo)** — "a million soldiers and ten thousand horses crossing a single-plank bridge." | + | |
- | **Comparison with the SAT/ | + | |
- | While the SAT/ACT are important in the US, they are just one component of a holistic college application that includes GPA, extracurricular activities, essays, and recommendation letters. In China, the **高考 (gāokǎo)** score is, for the vast majority of universities, | + | |
- | **Related Values:** | + | |
- | * **Meritocracy: | + | |
- | * **Sacrifice and Filial Piety:** The pressure to succeed is not just personal; it's deeply tied to family honor. Parents invest immense time, money, and emotional energy into their child' | + | |
- | * **Collective Effort:** During the Gaokao period (typically early June), the entire society mobilizes. Construction work near exam sites is halted, traffic is rerouted, and police cars are on standby to help any student running late. It's a collective, nationwide effort to ensure the students can perform at their best. | + | |
- | ===== Practical Usage in Modern China ===== | + | |
- | The term **高考 (gāokǎo)** is a household word in China, used in a variety of contexts: | + | |
- | * **In Daily Conversation: | + | |
- | * **On the News and Social Media:** Every June, the Gaokao dominates headlines. News reports cover everything from top scorers (`状元 zhuàngyuan`) to heartwarming stories of communities supporting the students. | + | |
- | * **As a Metaphor:** Because of its reputation for extreme difficulty and high stakes, " | + | |
- | The connotation is generally one of stress and immense pressure, but it's also viewed with a sense of shared national experience and respect for the diligence it requires. | + | |
- | ===== Example Sentences ===== | + | |
- | * **Example 1:** | + | |
- | * 为了准备**高考**,他每天只睡五个小时。 | + | |
- | * Pinyin: Wèile zhǔnbèi **gāokǎo**, | + | |
- | * English: In order to prepare for the Gaokao, he only sleeps five hours every day. | + | |
- | * Analysis: This sentence highlights the intense dedication and sacrifice required for Gaokao preparation. | + | |
- | * **Example 2:** | + | |
- | * **高考**结束了,学生们终于可以放松一下了。 | + | |
- | * Pinyin: **Gāokǎo** jiéshù le, xuéshēngmen zhōngyú kěyǐ fàngsōng yíxià le. | + | |
- | * English: The Gaokao is over, the students can finally relax a bit. | + | |
- | * Analysis: This shows the immediate sense of relief that follows the conclusion of the stressful exam period. | + | |
- | * **Example 3:** | + | |
- | * 他的**高考**成绩非常理想,被北京大学录取了。 | + | |
- | * Pinyin: Tā de **gāokǎo** chéngjì fēicháng lǐxiǎng, bèi Běijīng Dàxué lùqǔ le. | + | |
- | * English: His Gaokao score was ideal; he was admitted to Peking University. | + | |
- | * Analysis: This demonstrates the ultimate goal and positive outcome of the Gaokao—admission to a top university. `被 (bèi)` indicates the passive voice. | + | |
- | * **Example 4:** | + | |
- | * **高考**期间,请保持安静,不要打扰考生。 | + | |
- | * Pinyin: **Gāokǎo** qījiān, qǐng bǎochí ānjìng, búyào dǎrǎo kǎoshēng. | + | |
- | * English: During the Gaokao period, please remain quiet and do not disturb the test-takers. | + | |
- | * Analysis: This is a common public service announcement, | + | |
- | * **Example 5:** | + | |
- | * 很多人认为**高考**是中国最公平的考试。 | + | |
- | * Pinyin: Hěn duō rén rènwéi **gāokǎo** shì Zhōngguó zuì gōngpíng de kǎoshì. | + | |
- | * English: Many people believe the Gaokao is the fairest exam in China. | + | |
- | * Analysis: This sentence expresses a common viewpoint on the Gaokao' | + | |
- | * **Example 6:** | + | |
- | * 我永远也忘不了我参加**高考**那天的紧张心情。 | + | |
- | * Pinyin: Wǒ yǒngyuǎn yě wàngbuliǎo wǒ cānjiā **gāokǎo** nà tiān de jǐnzhāng xīnqíng. | + | |
- | * English: I will never forget the nervous feeling I had on the day I took the Gaokao. | + | |
- | * Analysis: This illustrates how the Gaokao is a powerful, lasting memory for those who have experienced it. | + | |
- | * **Example 7:** | + | |
- | * 如果这次**高考**没考好,他打算复读一年。 | + | |
- | * Pinyin: Rúguǒ zhè cì **gāokǎo** méi kǎo hǎo, tā dǎsuàn fùdú yì nián. | + | |
- | * English: If he doesn' | + | |
- | * Analysis: This introduces the concept of `复读 (fùdú)`, a common but difficult choice for students who are unsatisfied with their scores. | + | |
- | * **Example 8:** | + | |
- | * 整个家庭的希望都寄托在他一个人的**高考**上。 | + | |
- | * Pinyin: Zhěnggè jiātíng de xīwàng dōu jìtuō zài tā yí ge rén de **gāokǎo** shàng. | + | |
- | * English: The hopes of the entire family are pinned on his Gaokao alone. | + | |
- | * Analysis: This sentence powerfully conveys the immense family pressure that is a key feature of the Gaokao experience. | + | |
- | * **Example 9:** | + | |
- | * **高考**是人生的一个重要转折点。 | + | |
- | * Pinyin: **Gāokǎo** shì rénshēng de yí ge zhòngyào zhuǎnzhédiǎn. | + | |
- | * English: The Gaokao is an important turning point in life. | + | |
- | * Analysis: A succinct summary of the cultural significance of the exam. | + | |
- | * **Example 10:** | + | |
- | * 这个项目的最终审核就像我们的**高考**一样,决定了公司的未来。 | + | |
- | * Pinyin: Zhège xiàngmù de zuìzhōng shěnhé jiù xiàng wǒmen de **gāokǎo** yíyàng, juédìng le gōngsī de wèilái. | + | |
- | * English: This project' | + | |
- | * Analysis: This shows the metaphorical use of " | + | |
- | ===== Nuances and Common Mistakes ===== | + | |
- | * **False Friends (SAT/ | + | |
- | * **Not Just Any Exam:** Do not use **高考 (gāokǎo)** to refer to any difficult test. It specifically means the National College Entrance Examination. | + | |
- | * // | + | |
- | * //Correct (Literal):// | + | |
- | * //Correct (Metaphorical):// | + | |
- | ===== Related Terms and Concepts ===== | + | |
- | * [[大学]] (dàxué) - University; College. This is the ultimate goal of taking the **高考**. | + | |
- | * [[考生]] (kǎoshēng) - A test-taker; an examinee. During the Gaokao period, students are referred to as **高考考生**. | + | |
- | * [[状元]] (zhuàngyuan) - The top-scoring student in the **高考** for a given province or city. A term inherited from the ancient imperial examinations. | + | |
- | * [[录取]] (lùqǔ) - To be admitted or enrolled (by a school). Getting `录取 (lùqǔ)` by a good university is the desired outcome. | + | |
- | * [[分数线]] (fēnshùxiàn) - The cutoff score; the minimum score required for admission into a particular university or tier of universities. | + | |
- | * [[复读]] (fùdú) - To repeat a year of high school in order to retake the **高考** for a better score. | + | |
- | * [[考研]] (kǎoyán) - Short for `研究生入学考试 (yánjiūshēng rùxué kǎoshì)`, the postgraduate entrance examination. It is the "next Gaokao" | + | |
- | * [[应试教育]] (yìngshì jiàoyù) - Exam-oriented education. A term often used to critique an education system that focuses heavily on test preparation, | + | |
- | * [[千军万马过独木桥]] (qiān jūn wàn mǎ guò dú mù qiáo) - An idiom ("a million soldiers and ten thousand horses crossing a single-plank bridge" | + |